La MaMa to Honor Olympia Dukakis and More at Earth Gala This Week

La MaMa will honor award-winning Olympia Dukakis for her creative achievement in the arts and her work as an activist for social change; and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom partner Dan Kurtz for his steadfast advocacy on behalf of nonprofit organizations at the La MaMa Earth Gala on Thursday, November 13th. Guests Include Austin Pendleton (who will toast Olympia), John Patrick Shanley, Matt Dillon, among others.

Proceeds from the benefit will greatly assist La MaMa in producing its 53rd season of diverse and innovative work.

In announcing the gala, Artistic Director Mia Yoo stated, "At La MaMa, we are expressing a worldview through the artists we present and the community we serve. All voices need to be heard. La MaMa Earth is our theme this season and we are focusing on work that raises awareness about global ecology and issues of social justice and that is why we are thrilled to be honoring Dan Kurtz and Olympia Dukakis for their work and support of human rights and social and the environment."

Ms. Dukakis is the much-beloved actress with countless credits on stage, film and TV, including her most memorable, Oscar-winning role in the film MOONSTRUCK with Cher, Danny Aiello, Nicholas Cage and written by John Patrick Shanley.

La MaMa Earth Gala will take place at The Ellen Stewart Theatre, 66 East 4th Street. The evening begins with cocktails at 6:30pm, followed by dinner, special performances and honoree tributes. Single tickets start at $300. To purchase tickets or for more information contact the development office at 212/254-6468; email: gala@lamama.org; or visit: http://lamama.org/la-mama-gala/.

Gala performances will feature Reg E. Cathey ("House of Cards," "The Wire"); The La MaMa Cantata just back from their tour through Turkey and Macedonia; and Lois Weaver of Split Britches as her alter ego Tammy WhyNot. Olympia Dukakis's son, Stefan Zorich, will perform in tribute to his mother, with Al Ramos. Daniel Koren. Gala directed by Everett Quinton. Celebrity Auctioneer from Heritage Auctions Kathleen Guzman. Additional performances to be announced.

Gala Chairs are Patsy Tarr and Joel Zwick; the Gala Committee includes: Stuart Breslow & Anne Miller, Donald Capoccia, William M. Carey, Frank Carucci, Ping Chong, Douglas Dunham, Jane Friedman, Tim Fulham & Lise Olney, Dr. Marjorie Fisher & Roy Furman, R. Scott Greathead & Juliette Bennett, Matthew Hall, Victor Kovner, Neil LaBute, Seth & Sarah Lederman, Warren Leight & Karen Hauser, Desiree Matthews, Jeffrey Neuman & Patricia Machado, Jennifer Ortega, Estelle Parsons, Austin Pendelton, James Reynolds, Wynn Salisch, John Patrick Shanley, Peggy Shaw, Sonya Soutus, Peter Swords, Lois Weaver and Scott Wittman.

La MaMa's 53rd season opened this month. Currently playing: Tempest 3: The Tide Is Rising (Oct. 2 - Dec. 21) presents three diverse, international productions of William Shakepeare's play (U.S. - Korea - Italy) as the centerpiece of the La MaMa Earth Season. AdA: Author directing Author (Oct. 16 - Nov. 2) Neil LaBute and Marco Calvani reunite once again for the unique, international collaboration. This year's theme is desire and each author will direct the other playwright's work centered around this most primal of emotions. Angelus Novus (Oct 2 - 26) is a solo exhibition of painting, sculpture and video by the New York City-based artist Lucero Gonzalez Jameson.

Founded by Ellen Stewart in 1961, La MaMa is recognized as the seedbed of new work by artists of all nations and cultures. It is the place where emerging artists learn from established artists and where artists from around the globe share work and ideas. To date, La MaMa has presented artists from over 70 nations. Each season, La MaMa offers more than 100 presentations and reach an audience of more than 32,000 people of all ages and all backgrounds.

Sam Shepard, Blue Man Group, Lanford Wilson, Philip Glass, David and Amy Sedaris, Meredith Monk, Harvey Fierstein, Diane Lane, and Joel Zwick are just a few of the artists who began their careers at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club in the heart of Manhattan's East Village. La MaMa has been honored with more than 30 Obie Awards and dozens of Drama Desk Awards, Bessie Awards and Villager Awards. La MaMa has become a world-renowned cultural institution that is home to three theaters, an art gallery, rehearsal studios, a visiting artist dormitory, office space, and an extensive archive documenting the history of Off-Off Broadway.

For more information visit www.lamama.org.